Combined hinged tray and door fastener



Feb. 1, 1949. A. H. POTTS COMBINED HINGED TRAY AND DOOR'FASTENER 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. '7, 1947 INVENTOR ALL EN ffiPorns BY E SATTORNEY is Patented Feb. 1, 1949 COMBINED HINGED TRAY AND DOOR FASTENERAllen Hussell Potts, Chevy Chase, Md., assignor to the United States ofAmerica as represented by the Administrator, Federal Works AgencyApplication October 7, 1947, Serial No. 778,447

2 Claims.

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 3700. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and usedby or for the Government of the United States for governmental purposeswithout the payment to me of any royalty thereon in accordance with theprovisions of the act of April 30, 1928 (Ch. 460, 45 Stat. L. 467).

My invention provides a hinged tray for use in women's toilet stalls forholding packages only so long as a cooperating fastening mechanism is indoor fastened position. This forcibly reminds the occupant to carry awayher packages when leaving, thereby preventing a probable loss of herpossessions.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my device with my tray raised intooperative position with the door fastened.

Figure 2 is an elevation of my device in door fastened position.

Figure 3 is an end elevation, partly in section, of the device in doorfastened position.

Figure 4 is an end elevation, partly in section, in unfastened position,the tray being folded against the door.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of my catch, with a fastening lever inengaged position.

In the accompanying drawings:

A door plate H is provided with identical ends l2 each provided with asuitable pivot l3 and also with an elongated slot ll for a latchinglever I5 which is provided with transverse apertures l6 and I1. Midwaybetween the plate ends l2 there is rigidly attached to the door plate IIa fulcrum support It for the lever I5 with a screw bolt l9 in the holeIS in said lever and mounted in said fulcrum support l8 serving as afulcrum for the lever.

Each pivot I3 is provided with spacing members 20 between the ends l2and a tray 2|, which tray is provided with reinforcing downturned walls22. This tray has an inclined bottom 23 in which there is a dischargeaperture 24 parallel with the door plate II. The tray walls 22 areprovided with aligned apertures 25 for the pivots II and also with anaperture 26 for a link 21.

Suitable apertures in the door plate provide a means for securing myfastening unit to a door with bolts or screws. The width of the door isimmaterial, and the catch mounting may be modified for narrow doorjambs.

The lever I5 is terminally bent to form a handle 3| for releasing thedoor, which release permits the tray to drop into inoperative position(Fig. 4).

My link 21 (Fig. 2) provides a means for reversing the coupling of thelever IS with the tray wall 22. Y

My device may be assembled in a factory as a unit for attachment to adoor and may be quickly changed at the place of installation for doorshung on the opposite side from that for which the unit was assembled.

The parts are relatively sLmpIe and inexpensive so thatreplacementsma'," be easily made by a layman.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purposeof illustration only, and that the invention includes all modificationsand equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An article supporting tray and door latching device which includes asupporting plate adapted to be attached to a door, two tray supportingpivots "and a tray hinged on said pivots to said plate, the improvementwhich comprises a fulcrum perpendicular to said plate and midway of thelateral margins of said plate, a lever arm pivotally mounted on saidfulcrum extending be- The opposite end of the link 21 passes through ithe terminal aperture ll of the lever 15 thereby operatively couplinglever I! with tray wall 22. A catch 28 is attached to a door frame byscrews 32 and is provided with an inclined striking face 29 and a leverengaging notch 30.

yond one margin of the door plate and a link connecting one end of saidarm with said tray eccentrically of said supporting pivots.

2. A latching device for doors comprising a door plate, two supportingpivots, a tray hinged on said pivots near one margin to said plate, ahorizontal fulcrum rigidly mounted on said door plate midway of thelateral margins of said plate and perpendicular thereto, a lever armpivotally mounted on said fulcrum, a connecting link coupling one end ofsaid arm with said tray eccentrically of said supporting pivots and alever engaging catch having an upwardly inclined striking face.

., ALLEN RUSSELL POI'IS.

No references cited.

